Raiders' Bruce Irvin brings championship pedigree to Oakland

The Raiders brought in veteran linebacker Bruce Irvin for his Super Bowl savvy and his ability to hound quarterbacks. He can't wait to go next door and watch KD and the Dubs.

Bruce Irvin overcame long odds after dropping out of high school and spending a few weeks in jail on burglary and weapons charges as a youth. But persevere toward a successful NFL career he did.

Now the free agent acquisition who earned a Super Bowl ring in Seattle is looking to supplement star pass rusher Khalil Mack and help return the Raiders to the postseason.

The outspoken Irvin, who fled the Seahawks with a four-year, $37 million deal, took some time out to share his thoughts on boosting his sack total, his fun with social media and comparing his former and current fan bases:

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Question: You've credited the presence of both Khalil Mack and Ken Norton Jr. as part of your decision to come to Oakland. Has your experience around them lived up to the expectations?

Answer: It's great. Kenny Norton is Kenny Norton. The Kenny Norton in Seattle, he's the same Kenny Norton here. Very outspoken guy that doesn't bite his tongue and he'll give it to you straightforward. Khalil, one of the best in the business. Comes to work every day, works hard. The guy takes advice. I couldn't ask to be in a better situation than I am now.

Q: Speaking of outspoken, you've said that the Raiders didn't bring you here to be a follower, they brought you here to be a leader. Where did you develop those qualities?

A: I think growing up the way I grew up, that instilled that in me. Coming from my background, going through what I had to go through to be here with you right now, that really gave me the leadership qualities that I have.

Q: A year ago, Raiders coaches were telling us with Khalil that they wanted to get him going forward more, rushing the passer more. Now they've been saying the same thing about you. Is it your time to jump up and get double digit sacks?

A: It's definitely my time. I really feel I can be a premiere rusher, given the opportunity to rush. That's what Coach Norton and Jack Del Rio, they've been giving me opportunities every day in practice, and I've just been making the best out of my opportunities.

Q: Two of the big free agents the Raiders signed this year -- yourself and Kelechi Osemele -- are guys that have won Super Bowl rings. How does it change a player to have won a Super Bowl?

A: It's forever. It's history. People can say what they want to say about you, but I'll always be a Super Bowl champion. That's something that's more than money. That's something that's more than the perks that come with being an NFL player. That's forever. When we do it here, that group, we'll always have a bond in life and we'll always be brothers. It's a special, special feeling, man. A lot of Hall of Fame dudes -- Dan Marino doesn't even have a Super Bowl, or Jim Kelly. Those type of guys who are big names in this league don't know what it feels like to be a Super Bowl champion. That's a feeling I'm just trying to bring to Oakland and bring to these young guys and really instill in them that it takes a lot of hard work if you want to get to that level.

Q: After you signed here, you quickly got involved in going out to Warriors playoff games. What did you like best about that experience and how big of a basketball guy are you?

A: I'm a big basketball guy. We didn't have that in Seattle, so that's a big advantage. I could tell by the way they support the Warriors that it's a great fan base. The Warriors games were damn near like football games. It was a great time, and it's going to probably be even better with KD, huh? Crazy. I just can't wait to get in the Coliseum and just play for Oakland, man, and give these fans something to cheer for.

Q: Is there any good story or reason behind the No. 51 that you wear?

A: I wore 11 in college, so I wanted to keep the 1. And then I got drafted 15, so if you flip (51) around, it's 15 and I still have a 1 in there, so that was pretty much the thing behind that.

Q: You're a big social media guy, and we saw it in how you were recruiting other free agents. What do you enjoy about interacting on Twitter?

A: I just like talking. I'm a very outspoken person. As you can see, I have no filter. If it's on my mind, I'm going to say it. I just like interacting with fans. I feel like it makes you closer to your fans and kind of lets them voice their opinion. I like seeing what they've got to say. Like you said, I'm a big social media guy and it's great for recruiting. I do a lot of recruiting on there.

Q: If you weren't playing football, what other occupation could you see yourself doing?

A: It would have to be something hands on, like construction.

Q: If there was one word you could use to describe what to expect from the Raiders defense this year, what would be it?

A: Physical. Got to be physical.

Q: All right, you come from Seattle where they have the 12th Man. Now you're going to the Black Hole. If those two groups were to tussle, who do you think is winning?

A: Oh man. It would be a sight to see right there. The Black Hole is just nasty. Nasty. Ruthless. The 12th Man, they have manners. You know, they just cheer. It wasn't really crazy. But the Black Hole? It's gangsters, thugs and all types of stuff in there. It would probably get ugly, but I would probably have to go with the Black Hole.

Q: Playoffs? Is it happening this year?

A: It's happening. We've just got to protect the Coliseum. We have to win at home. We cannot let any team come to Oakland and beat us. So protect the Coliseum, steal two or three on the road, and I think we'll take the AFC West.